A. The Twelve Apostles

Matthew 10:1-4

Mark 3:13-19

Luke 6:12-16

Acts 1:13, Acts 1:26

Simon (called Peter); (Simon Bar-Jonah)

Andrew (Simon’s brother)

James (son of Zebedee); (Boanerges ‘Sons of Thunder’)

John (brother of James)

Philip

Bartholomew (Nathanael)

Matthew (Levi)

Thomas

James (son of Alpheus)

Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus); (Judas the son of James)

Simon (the Zealot); (the Cananite)

Judas Iscariot (son of Simon); (who betrayed Jesus)

B. Why did Jesus Need Apostles?

Luke 4:18-19

Isaiah 61:1-2

[Preach, heal, release, bring sight, liberate, and proclaim the year of the Lord]

1 Corinthians 1:21

[Preach message.]

Matthew 16:15-19

[Build His church.]

John 15:16

[Bear fruit.]

Did Jesus have a message everyone needed to hear?

Why did Jesus want everyone to believe His message?

How did Jesus want His message delivered?

Did Jesus need the apostles to bear fruit?

Why was building a church so important to Jesus?

How was Jesus going to build His church?

C. Why did Jesus Select These Twelve to be His Apostles?

Acts 1:20-21

Psalm 69:25; Psalm 109:8

[A follower and an eyewitness to replace Judas Iscariot.]

Were they gifted motivational speakers?

Were they well educated?

Did they have extensive teaching experience?

Did they have the right personality/social skills for the work?

Did they have a natural ability or social status to attract a large audience?

Were they a diverse group equipped to effectively work with many nationalities and personality types?

Did they have the necessary leadership/organizational skills to help establish the church?

Did they have formal Bible training?

Had they attended a preacher training school?

What makes us less qualified?

D. What Standards or Qualifications were Used by Jesus to Select His Apostles?

John 6:60-71

[Many stopped following Jesus]

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

[God chose the foolish, the weak and the base things.]

TO ANSWER THIS, WE MUST EXAMINE WHAT JESUS DID.

Did Jesus select apostles randomly as He walked down the road?

Did Jesus select apostles from those seeking Him?

Did Jesus select apostles from those following Him?

Did all followers of Jesus believe in Jesus?

Did Jesus select men who were perfect?

Did Jesus select men He could teach?

Did Jesus select men because they asked to be an apostle?

Would Jesus select you/me today?

E. When did Jesus select His Apostles?

Matthew 12:9-14

[Jesus heals; Pharisees want to destroy.]

Luke 6:6-11

[Jesus heals on the Sabbath.]

Luke 6:12-13

[Jesus prays all night.]

If the ministry of Jesus started when He was baptized, did He select apostles immediately?

Did some of disciples of John the Baptist immediately start following Jesus after Jesus was baptized?

Were many people following Jesus by the time He select HIs apostles?

Were the Scribes and Pharisees already angry and wanted to do something to Jesus when Jesus selected His apostles?

What did Jesus do all night before selecting His apostles?

Is praying our custom?

F. How did Jesus call His Disciples/Apostles?

Matthew 4:18-22

[Peter, Andrew, James, and John.]

Matthew 9:9

[Matthew.]

John 1:43-51

[Philip and Nathanael.]

Luke 6:13

[Some disciples become apostles.]

Did everyone who followed Jesus become a disciple?

Did everyone who followed Jesus become an apostle?

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

When a disciple was called, did he immediately drop what he was doing and follow Jesus?

When an apostle was chosen, could that disciple still say, “No, thank you”?

G. How did Jesus Train His Apostles?

Mark 3:14

[Jesus was with them.]

Luke 8:9

[They ask meaning of parable.]

Luke 11:1

[Teach us to Pray.]

Luke 9:1-6

[Sending out the Twelve.]

Luke 10:1-12

[Sending out the Seventy.]

Was it important for the apostles to spend time with Jesus?

Did the apostles watch and learn as Jesus was teaching?

Could the apostles privately ask Jesus questions when they didn’t understand His teachings?

Did the apostle ever ask Jesus to teach them a specific subject?

Did Jesus provide an opportunity for them to practice what they were learning?

H. How did Jesus Equip His Apostles?

Acts 1:8-9

[Power from the Holy Spirit.]

John 14:26

[The Helper.]

John 16:12-13

[Spirit of Truth.]

Would the Holy Spirit empower them to do miracles to prove they were God’s messengers and that their message was true?

Would the Holy Spirit help the apostles remember the words of Jesus?

Would the Holy Spirit guide them into all truth?

I. Did the Apostles Produce Great Results?

Acts 10:36-37

[Proclaimed throughout all Judea.]

Acts 17:6

[Turned world upside down.]

Colossians 1:21-23

[Gospel has been preached to every creature under heaven.]

How were the apostles able to turn the world upside down?

Was the gospel preached throughout Judea?

How were they able to preach the gospel throughout the whole world?

Were churches established in many cities?

Was it possible for these churches to also have elders?

Was all this accomplished because the apostles were accomplished teachers, polished leaders, and talented workers?

What prevents us from accomplishing great results for Jesus today?